Perm Sec denies signing payment vouchers for ex-governor, others

dimeji akinloye

May 3, 2017 6:37 PM

The Perm Sec. made the declaration on Wednesday during cross examination by one of the defence counsels, Mr Olumide Olujimi.

Murtala Nyako

Mr

Emmanuel, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, made the declaration on Wednesday before a Federal High Court, Abuja, during cross examination by one of the defence counsel, Mr Olumide Olujimi.

He said that as the permanent secretary, he was the chief accounting officer and that whenever the accountant brought monies from the bank, the beneficiaries would collect and utilise it for various purposes.

He said that at no time did Nyako, his son or any of the other seven defendants benefit from such monies.

Earlier, while being led in evidence by Mr Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecuting counsel, Emmanuel said that as the chief accounting officer of the ministry, the accountant always brought the cash from the bank to him before disbursing to the various beneficiaries.

ALSO READ: EFCC re-arraigns Nyako, son over 'N40bn fraud'

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nyako and his son, Sen. Abdulaziz Murtala-Nyako, are standing trial for alleged N40 billion fraud.

The former governor and his son, who is a serving senator, are facing a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering alongside two others, Zulkifik Abba and Abubakar Aliyu.

They allegedly diverted the funds from the Adamawa treasury between January 2011 and December, 2014.

The funds were allegedly diverted through five companies – Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms &amp, Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.Justice Okon Abang adjourned the case until May 4 for continuation of trial.

dimeji akinloye